Baby boot



Aug. 28, 1962 A. w. PAYNE, JR

BABY BOOT Filed Sept. 8, 1960 INVENTOR B)IQLFRED W. PAYNE JR.

United States Patent Utilice 3,050,873 Patented Aug. 2S, 1962 3,0%,873 BABY BT Alfred W. Payne, Jr., 120 73rd St., New York, NX. Filed Sept. S, 1965, Ser. No. 54,710 1 Claim. (Ci. S16- 2.5)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoes and shoe construction.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved shoe designed primariiy for babies and infants but which construction can be used for any size range of footwear.

As a furtherv object, the present invention proposes forming a shoe construction which will provide a more flexible type of shoe (fore part), a shoe with a solid firm and snug fitting heel area to anchor the heel, a soft and smooth walking and standing rarea shoe, and a shoe with a natural curved and accurately fitting heel contour.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing an inner sole which is contiguous with and a continuation of the counter area of the shoe by providing a piece of soft and smooth upper leather or other like upper material similar to that used in the upper of a shoe, this piece being adapted to be attached to the shoe upper and extend downward and around the heel area of the shoe last and to form the inner sole of the shoe.

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the integral inner sole and counter with counters or counter pockets so that the one piece of soit upper ma- -terial can be draped around a curevd natural lshape heel seat to follow the natural heel curve of a foot to give more flexibility and softness than the customary separate iiat inner sole normally inserted on the bottom of a last and the customary counter normally inserted as a separate insert in the heel area of a shoe to give support.

A further lobject of the invention proposes constructing the inner sole and counter so that a comfortable and gentle shoe for an infants or babys foot can be made either in the welt construction as mens shoes are made or in cement construction as Womens shoes are made.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of an infants shoe constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a View similar to FIG. 1 but showing a top perspective.

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a View of the back or quarter of the shoe with the inner sole and counter attached.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating a modication of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the shoe in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, is of the cement type construction `and is designated generally by the reference numeral 15.

Shoe has `an upper 16 of soft, exible leather or similar upper material and an outer sole 17 of stiffer material. Shoe 15 also has the usual tongue 18, vamp 19 and toe portion 20.

Upper 16 has a back or quarter or back quarter 21 which is secured to two side pieces or members 22 and 2 of the upper.

An integral inner sole and counter 24 of soft, smooth upper material has a counter portion 25 at one end and an inner sole portion 26 at the other end. The inner sole portion 26 is contiguous with and a continuation of the counter portion 25.

Counter portion 25 is secured as by stitches 27 to shoe upper 16 at the center of the back or back quarter 21. Two spaced iiaps 28 and 29 are provided on the counter portion 25 adjacent its juncture with the inner sole portion 26. As seen in FIG. 3, the inner sole portion 26 is angularly disposed from the counter portion 25 eX- tending over the fiaps 28 and 29 which are folded under the inner sole portion. The inner sole portion 26 is cemented to the sole 17 of the shoe.

In this manner, the counter portion 25 extends downward and around the heel area of the shoe and together with the inner sole portion 26 forms a natural curved and accurately fitting heel contour and a snug dtting heel area in the shoe.

The modification illustrated in FIG. 5 is characterized by the provision of a shoe 30 of the Welt construction type having an upper 31, a sole 32 and the usual tongue 33, vamp 34 and toe portion 35. An integral inner sole and counter 36 is also provided. The inner sole and counter 36 has a counter portion '37 at `one end and an inner sole portion 38 at the other end with flaps 39 similar to flaps 28 and 29, on the bottom of the counter portion 37. The counter portion 37 is secured to the back of the upper inside the shoe 30 and the flaps 39 are folded under the inner sole portion 38.

An inner sole 4t) of light sole material is cemented or otherwise laminated to the inner sole portion 38 and channeled for the 'attachment of a Welt on the shoe.'

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed yand that various changes and modications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having 'thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent In a shoe having a liexible upper and a stiff outer sole, an integral inner sole and counter member of soft, smooth upper material, said inner sole and counter member constituted by a counter portion and an inner sole portion, said inner sole portion being contiguous with and a continuation of the counter portion, said counter portion being adapted to be secured -to the upper and extend downward and around the heel area of the shoe and said inner sole portion constituting the inner sole, said counter portion having llaps adjacent the inner sole portion securing the inner sole portion in a position angularly disposed from the counter portion and constituting a natural curved and accurately tting heel contour and snug fitting heel area for the shoe, said counter flaps adapted to fold under the inner sole portion, and a back quarter, said counter portion of the inner sole and counter member being secured at the central portion of the back quarter on the inside of the shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,587,562 Swanson lune 8, 1926 2,460,669 Ayers Feb. 1, 1949 2,520,301 Ayers L Aug. 29, 1950 2,550,484 Kaut et a1 Apr. 24, 1951 2,554,075 Vigorith May 22, 1951 2,607,131 Everston Aug. 19, 1952 2,635,361 Ayers Apr. 21, 1953 2,635,362 Lelyveld Apr. 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 802,915 Great Britain Oct. 15, 1958 

